01 The dock
Kewalo Basin
Meet us at the slip in Kewalo Basin, minutes from Waikīkī. A quick safety briefing, the spread already rigged, and we’re off the dock.
Private sportfishing · Kewalo Basin, Honolulu
Big Game Sportfishingon Oʻahu’s South Shore,Minutes From Waikīkī.
Deep sea fishing for blue marlin, ahi, ono and mahimahi aboard Ruckus, our 38′ Bertram. Private charters for up to six, off the dock at 6:00 every morning.
4.8 from 554 reviewsAngler’s Choice Award
- 4.8★554 FishingBooker reviews
- 6Up to six guests
- 6:00amOff the dock, every morning
- 20+Years fishing Oʻahu
A day aboard Ruckus
From the Dock to Flags Up.
No two days out there are the same. Here’s how one usually plays out.
02 Offshore
Heading Out
Most mornings we try to catch live bait on the way out when we can. Oʻahu’s south shore drops into deep water close to the harbor, so it’s a short ride to the fishing grounds.
03 Trolling
Lines Out
The mate sets a pattern of lures off the outriggers. We troll the ledges, the FAD buoys and whatever bird pile the captain has been watching all week.
04 The catch
Reel Screaming
A rod bends over and the reel starts singing. You jump in the chair while the captain backs down to get the mate on the leader of what might be the biggest fish of your lifetime.
05 Boatside
Color!
Somebody yells it the second the fish lights up under the transom. One clean shot with the gaff and it’s over the side, still glowing blue and gold.
06 Heading in
Flags Up
Coming back into Kewalo, a flag goes up the outrigger for every species on the boat. Everyone on the dock knows how your day went.
Private charters
One Boat. Your Crew. Pick Your Hours.
Every private charter is the whole boat for up to six guests. We leave the dock at 6:00 AM, and all tackle is included.
4 hours
Half Day
For beginners who want to give it a shot, or anyone booking on short notice.
$1,250per boat · up to 6
Book a half day 6 hours
Three-Quarter Day
More time to run out to better grounds, and still back in time for lunch.
$1,500per boat · up to 6
Book a three-quarter day 8 hoursCaptain’s pick
Full Day
The best option. More time on better grounds, and the best shot at a quality fish you’ll talk about for years.
$1,750per boat · up to 6
Book a full day Included on every trip
- Shimano big-game reels, rods and tackle
- Lures, bait and all rigging
- Ice, fish box and coolers
- Your share of the catch, cleaned and bagged
- A private head on board
You bring
- A one-day fishing license (visitors 15+)
- Food & drinks (beer/alcohol OK, no glass)
- Sunscreen (no spray), hat and sunglasses
- A light layer for the ride out
Booking
- $300 deposit holds your date. Fully refundable up to 24 hours before departure.
- Visa, Mastercard, Discover and cash.
- Gift certificates available. Call to buy one.
What’s biting
The Fish We Chase.
We troll for the open-ocean fish Hawaiʻi is famous for and fly a flag for each one on the way home. Here’s when each runs off Oʻahu. The outlined month is now.
Around Good PeakSeasons shift year to year, so ask us what’s running this week.
Aʻu
Pacific blue marlin
The fish Hawaiʻi is famous for, and they’re here all year round.
Nairagi
Striped marlin
A cooler-water marlin that shows up in the winter months. Same flag as a blue.
Hebi
Shortbill spearfish
The smallest billfish out here, and a fun one on light tackle. Best in winter.
Ahi
Yellowfin tuna
Hard-pulling and the best sashimi you’ll ever eat.
Mahimahi
Dolphinfish
Acrobatic, colorful and often in schools. Spring and fall runs; toughest in summer.
Ono
Wahoo
Blistering first run. Ono means ‘delicious’ for a reason.
Aku
Skipjack tuna
Fast, schooling and great bait for the bigger fish.
This week
What’s running right now?
Text us. We’ll tell you straight what’s biting and which trip gives you the best shot.
Text (808) 451-8090Off the deck
Real Fish. Real Guests.
Every photo here was taken aboard Ruckus or at our slip in Kewalo Basin.
The boat
Ruckus, 38′ Bertram Sportfisherman.
Bertram built the 38 for exactly this: a deep-V hull that takes a sea without beating you up, and a cockpit laid out to fight a fish.
Ruckus was launched in 1984 and rebuilt top to bottom in 2023, with an upgraded transducer and new Garmin electronics. She’s one of the best raising boats in the harbor, set up for Hawaiʻi with long outriggers, a fighting chair, Shimano big-game reels and LP electric reels running the dredge teasers.
- Length
- 38 ft
- Beam
- 13 ft
- Power
- Twin Caterpillar diesels
- Guests
- Up to 6
- Rebuilt
- 2023
- Electronics
- Garmin
- Garmin electronics
- Upgraded transducer
- LP electric teaser reels
- Fighting chair
- Flybridge
- Outriggers
- Live bait well
- Private head
Your captain
Captain From Day One.
Rubin has captained for Five Star since the beginning, running the boat alongside founder Capt. John Troutman, a retired Marine who started the company to share big-game fishing with anyone who wanted to try it. Today, he’s at the helm of Ruckus and Five Star.
He’s fished Hawaiian waters for 14 years, after more than a decade fishing Florida. His biggest marlin as captain was a 1,005-pounder, caught aboard Ruckus in 2018. Guests say it best: he finds the fish, and the crew never stops working until the lines come in.
Capt. RubinCaptain, Five Star Sportfishing
On deck
Meet the Crew
Capt. Gabe Duran
Captain
Also known as Captain Mowgli, Gabe grew up fishing freshwater around Lake Tahoe, then saltwater off California, from San Francisco and Monterey to Santa Cruz and Dillon Beach. At 21 he moved to Alaska to chase his dream of being a sportfisherman, then came to Hawaiʻi to fish offshore. He’s captained Ruckus since 2022. “I’m living the life I dreamt of as a kid. Aloha and tight lines.”
Capt. Dallas Bock
Weekend captain
Sixteen years fishing Hawaiian waters, most of it hunting marlin and mahimahi offshore. “There’s nothing more fulfilling than being on the ocean, reading the water and chasing pelagics. Fishing isn’t just my profession, it’s what I love to do.”
Tino Rose
First mate
Tino has worked in Hawaiʻi tourism his whole life, from snorkel charters to surf lessons, bottom fishing and yacht work, until he found his passion on Ruckus. “The best part of charter fishing is teaching someone how to do something you love. Those are the memories you never forget.”
Mike Marks
Second mate
Mike has been part of the Ruckus ʻohana for close to a decade. He’s crewed and fished in tournaments across Oʻahu and Kona and at the world-famous Bisbee’s in Mexico, and fished from Costa Rica and Alaska to Canada and New Zealand. He also founded the Vintage Lure Project and knows the history of Hawaiʻi fishing better than just about anyone.
Straight off the deck
@fivestarsportfishing_ruckus4.8554 reviews on FishingBooker
Angler’s Choice Award
The Crew Never Stops Working.
“We caught 5 Marlins in total, one blue marlin close to 200lbs.”
“Gabe and Tino were absolutely incredible! These guys worked like a well-oiled machine.”
“We had an incredible day on the water and landed 11 Mahi Mahi.”
“You can tell they genuinely care about giving people a great experience.”
“This was an extremely hard-working crew and very knowledgeable.”
“Highly recommend these guys. Thanks again, fellas. You made a good day great.”
Your first trip
Never Been Offshore? Start Here.
The questions first-timers ask us most, answered straight.
I’ve never been deep-sea fishing. Is that a problem?
Not at all. Most of our guests are first-timers. The crew rigs everything, runs the lines and coaches you through every fish, from the strike to the gaff. All you need to do is show up.
Will I get seasick?
Most people don’t. Get a good night’s sleep, go easy on the drinks the night before, and take a non-drowsy remedy an hour before departure if you’re prone to it. On board, stay in the fresh air and keep your eyes on the horizon.
What if we don’t catch anything?
Nobody can guarantee fish, and we won’t pretend to. Hawaiʻi isn’t a big-numbers fishery like Alaska, Florida or Mexico. It’s a quality fishery. We have great days, but the fish out here are worth the work. What we promise is a crew that works the whole trip, on one of the best raising boats in the harbor.
Do we get to keep the fish?
Yes, up to 50 lb of whole fish. Fish are weighed one at a time, and the crew will ask what you like to eat. The captain or crew will cut and bag it for you at the dock, and if you only want enough for dinner a night or two, just let the captain know. We don’t cut into fish of 100 lb or more. Those are sold and split between the boat and crew, which helps cover fuel and supports the crew and their families.
Do I need a fishing license?
Visitors 15 and older do. Hawaiʻi requires a Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License, even on a charter. A one-day license is $20 at fishing.hawaii.gov, so buy it before you come down to the dock. Hawaiʻi residents, kids 14 and under, and active-duty military and their immediate family are exempt.
What should we bring?
Your fishing license if you’re visiting, and whatever food and drinks you’d like. Beer and alcohol are fine; we just ask for nothing in glass. Sunscreen is highly recommended, but please no spray sunscreen: it gets grease everywhere and makes the deck slippery. Add a hat, sunglasses and a light layer. Leave the cooler at home; we have ice and fish boxes on board.
Is tipping customary?
Yes. Tipping is customary on fishing charters around the world. The captain and crew can’t make the fish bite, but they’ll work hard to put you on them and make sure you have a great day. A tip is how you thank them for that effort, whether or not the fish cooperate, and it means a lot to them and their families. 15–20% of the trip cost is the usual range.
Can kids come?
Absolutely. Plenty of families fish with us, and the boat is private, so the day moves at your pace. Kids five and up tend to enjoy it most. If yours are younger, give the office a call at (808) 451-8090 before you book and we’ll talk it through.
Where do we meet?
Kewalo Basin Harbor, Slip F9, in the very front row, at 1025 Ala Moana Blvd. The harbor is right next to the west entrance of Ala Moana Beach Park, about ten minutes from Waikīkī. Look for the marlin next to the turtle. Arrive at 5:45 AM for a 6:00 departure.
What’s the deposit and cancellation policy?
A $300 deposit holds your date. It’s fully refundable if you cancel at least 24 hours before departure.
- Be there
- 5:45 AM for a 6:00 departure
- Ask anything
- (808) 451-8090 · Email